Meth charges brought against three in separate cases

A Sampson County man has been charged with several drug felonies after deputies serving an order for his arrest allegedly found methamphetamine in his home, according to reports.

Thomas Hugh Hicks, 37, of 5280 Plainview Hwy., Dunn, was charged with possession of methamphetamine, two counts of possession of a precursor chemical, maintaining a dwelling for the storage of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

His bond was set at $50,000 secured.

Deputies responded to Hicks’ residence to serve him an order for his arrest when they found the drugs.

“During the arrest, deputies observed methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia inside the defendant’s residence,” Sheriff’s Capt. Eric Pope said, noting further investigation by the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Division. “SID later conducted an search warrant at the defendant’s residence and located methamphetamine, precursor chemicals and drug paraphernalia inside the residence.”

According to Hicks’ arrest report, a small amount — about a fifth of a gram — of meth was seized in the incident.

In a separate incident Monday, two Sampson County women were each charged with a felony offense in connection with possessing and distributing a key ingredient in the making of meth.

Amanda Diane Whaley, 29, of 2671 W. Main St., Clinton, and Holli Christina Gautier, 26, of 1850 Eugene Jernigan Road, Dunn, was charged with possessing/distributing meth precursor chemicals. The charges were brought as a result of the North Carolina Crime Lab’s analysis of evidence seized from 100 Burges Lane, Clinton, on Nov. 2, 2015, Pope noted.

Both were arrested without incident, authorities said. Secured bonds were set at $5,000 apiece.

Reach Managing Editor Chris Berendt at 910-249-4616. Follow the paper on twitter @SampsonInd and like us on Facebook.